Meet the Integrated Studies BAnner Bearers
Our Integrated Studies graduates have persisted through incredible individual journeys. They are a resilient group! The flexibility of this major allows students to achieve the dream of completing a UH degree so that they can get started on the bright future laying ahead of them.
For each commencement, top Integrated Studies GPA earners are chosen to represent all of our accomplished graduates by holding the ceremonial title of Banner Bearer.
Spring 2026 Banner Bearers are headed into such diverse professional fields as nursing; teaching and coaching; and Computer Engineering Technology.
Meet the three Spring 2026 Banner Bearers and see what advise they share for Integrated Studies students following behind them.
Please meet our Spring 2026 Banner Bearers below:
Annabelle Lin
Spring 2026 graduate, B.S. in Integrated Studies
Please share a little about yourself and your background.
I grew up around the Sugarland/Richmond area. As a teenager, I took the bus around Houston with friends to Hermann Park and the museum. I'm the eldest of three siblings. I’ve always liked school, but having the freedom in college to plan out my future has been both a lot of work and exciting.
What drew you to apply to the University of Houston, and what caused you to select the Integrated Studies major?
I love the diversity here! I've met students from all different backgrounds at UH. This school has always embraced me and I'm very grateful for that.
Being able to meet new friends and build career connections in Houston, a city I love, has also been a bonus.
I chose the Integrated Studies Major as a way to continue my degree at UH with the classes I had taken in my initial major. I was still able to take upper-level courses in a subject matter I was interested in. I'm grateful to be able to continue my educational journey at UH.
Looking back on your time at UH, how did any of the UH offices you worked with help you feel more confident and prepare you for your next chapter?
Shout out to the Writing Center for their incredible student staff! I also like the Health Center for being affordable and accessible. I once had a terrible flu, and it helped take a weight off my shoulder knowing I had a place I could go to check it out.
Were there any professors, advisors, or other staff who made a lasting impact on you, and can you share how they supported you or influenced your journey?
I am incredibly grateful to Tasha Jones who helped work with me to design my schedule for Integrated Studies. Switching plans can be a bit stressful, but I appreciated their patience and organization to plan out classes that would fit with my future goals. I also appreciate Megan Booth, a UH advisor, who helped me tremendously with both the practical aspect of transferring to Integrated Studies and the emotional aspect of trying to set long term goals.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am going to nursing school as a second-degree program using the credits I was able to earn as an Integrated Studies major.
What advice would you give future students who also want to graduate at the top of their class? What were the keys to your success?
Reach out to professors, other students, and social support both for academic tips and for mental health tips. For some courses, I found that reading the textbook and then practicing flashcards about the material throughout the week was helpful. Recognize the hard work you have done and congratulate yourself when you complete tasks! It’s not just nice, but it’s also a good strategy to maintain the motivation you get from completing a task and limit burnout.
Preston Mba
Spring 2026 graduate, B.S. in Integrated Studies
Please share a little about yourself and your background
I am a Houston native, to be more specific Southwest Alief, Texas. I am blessed to be a son, little brother, big brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, and significant other all in one! As a kid I wasn't a big fan of school. My favorite subject if I had to pick one was science, but I was just looking forward to recess and P.E. every day. I made sure my grades were good enough to play always.
What drew you to apply to the University of Houston, and what caused you to select the Integrated Studies major?
I applied to the University of Houston as a transfer student from Texas State University. Things weren't going how I expected them to, so I made the decision to come back home. I chose the Integrated Studies major because I was out of school for some time—I took a two-year gap year to work and pay off some debt. Once I decided to come back and finish school, I wasn't so sure about what path I wanted to take career wise. Becoming an Integrated Studies major allowed me to focus on finishing school while helping me navigate my future and career planning.
Looking back on your time at UH, how did any of the UH offices you worked with help you feel more confident and prepare you for your next chapter?
Looking back at my time here, I owe a lot of my success to the Integrated Studies advisors who helped me along the way. Dr. Lateki Lewis, Ms. Vanessa L Guidry, and Ms. Nakia T Alexander. Each semester I started and finished was because of their willingness to get me into the classes that worked best for me. Because of that I will always be grateful and appreciative of them. Also, all the job fairs and career opportunities the University held were very resourceful as well.
What are your plans after graduation?
I currently work in hospitality but after graduation, I plan to enter a teaching certification program and work on my steps to becoming an educator while pursuing my goal to become a basketball coach/academy leader by finding a beginning role in the AAU circuit.
What advice would you give future students who also want to graduate at the top of their class? What were the keys to your success?
My advice to future scholars would be to keep a level of ambition and always have a reason to why you are wanting a degree—for you and your personal achievements, a promise you made to your family or a loved one, or just to set yourself up for a decent job. Always keep a purpose to why you are doing this and stay strong when the going gets tough!
Kendra Nguyen
Summer 2026 graduate, B.S. in Integrated Studies
Please share a little about yourself and your background
As the daughter of Vietnamese refugees and a first-generation American born and raised in Houston, education was always a core value in my home. Watching my parents build a life here with so little has been a primary driver in my academic efforts.
What drew you to apply to the University of Houston, and what caused you to select the Integrated Studies major?
For one, UH was close to home and I initially considered pursuing pre-med. UH has a wide diversity of programs that I could explore while I was still uncertain. Integrated Studies was introduced to me by Dr. Kaplan, an advisor who saw it as a steppingstone toward completing my post-baccalaureate degree, allowing me to complete my second Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering Technology this fall.
Looking back on your time at UH, how did any of the UH offices you worked with help you feel more confident and prepare you for your next chapter?
The Engineering Technology Advising Office and the USS offices gave me the confidence and support I really needed. It took me some time to find my footing, but I was never without resources or guidance. One thing I looked forward to every semester was the Engineering Research Showcase, being able to present my work and see what my peers were building was encouraging and rewarding. And beyond that, the sense of community at the Sugar Land Engineering campus made a real difference. Whether it was advisors, TAs, professors, or classmates, I always felt like I had a team in my corner.
Were there any professors, advisors, or other staff who made a lasting impact on you, and can you share how they supported you or influenced your journey?
First, a special thank you goes out to Roy Kaplan from Technology Advising Department and Lateki Lewis from USS. In a university this size, it's easy to feel like just another number, but they made sure I felt seen and supported. Dr. Kaplan especially went above and beyond. He personally reached out, walked me through my options, and encouraged me to consider the Post-Baccalaureate program. After so many advising appointments that felt rushed, his genuine interest in my success meant a lot.
What are your plans after graduation?
Right now, I'm focused on starting in the industry through internships and entry-level Embedded/Machine-Learning roles, and I'm excited to see where that foundation leads. Graduate and master school are on the table, especially with employer support behind it. At the end of the day, my ideal job is one that doesn't feel like work. I want to spend my days fully immersed in building something meaningful, surrounded by people who are just as passionate about it as I am.
What advice would you give future students who also want to graduate at the top of their class? What were the keys to your success?
When it comes to the work itself, my key to success was recreating tests at home as many times as it took until I felt confident. I would take a test without any help or notes, grade myself, realize where I make mistakes, and correct them. Repeat until I got the grade I wanted. Grades aren’t a measure of how ‘smart' you are, rather how much time and effort you are willing to put in. You can excel in any subject you’re determined to learn.
My second advice is to take it one foot after another. At the start of every semester, I built a master Excel sheet with every assignment and exam due date. Checking off my progress kept me motivated. Beyond work and organization, find healthy ways to release your stress and stay grounded. For me, that was playing piano, working out, and leaning on my support system.
Prior Semester Banner Bearers
Fall 2025 Banner Bearer: Kyle She
December 2025 graduate, B.S. in Integrated Studies
Please share a little about yourself and your background.
I grew up in Houston, Texas. I have one younger brother by four years. Both of my parents went to college just like I did.
What drew you to apply to the University of Houston, and what caused you to select the Integrated Studies major?
The reputation of UH drew me to apply to it. I selected the Integrated Studies major after I found out that being a Biology major didn't suit me well. I was lucky it came out in 2023, two years after I started attending UH.
How did any of the UH offices you worked with help you feel more confident and prepare you for your next chapter?
The Advising office helped me get a good plan of what I had completed and what I still needed to complete. They provided specific details on my progress throughout my enrollment of courses at UH.
Were there any professors, advisors, or other staff who made a lasting impact on you, and can you share how they supported you or influenced your journey?
A professor I liked was Dr. Qin. She was very sweet and understood me. Her Human Genetics class was very fun to attend, and I was able to absorb the material into my head. The class also helped me with my Mendelian Genetics class.
What are your plans after graduation?
To be honest, I am still thinking about what to do!
What advice would you give future students who also want to graduate at the top of their class? What were the keys to your success?
I would tell them to plan out their time. Make sure they review more on material they do not understand, and to also seek help if needed. The keys to my success were a mixture of hard work and luck, but mostly hard work.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to add that where I ended up was unexpected. I thought that I would never be able to pass UH when I was struggling, but with the option of Integrated Studies becoming available in 2023, it has been a blessing for me.